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Project Twinkle Final Report (scan)

NICAP · 29 pages · text by OCR

This declassified U.S. Air Force file contains the final report of Project Twinkle, dated 27 November 1951 and written by Louis Elterman of the Geophysics Research Division, together with related correspondence. The project was set up to investigate the green fireballs and other light phenomena around Holloman AFB and Vaughn, New Mexico, and it was run with Askania cameras. The report calls its findings essentially negative and recommends no further funding. In March 1952 the Directorate of Intelligence declined to declassify it.

Open the PDF at page 7 Original source ↗

“Nature”12 pages

  • p. 2 …the fact that nothing of a security nature has been discovered. FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL: ## 1…
  • p. 3 …Others can be attributed to natural phenomena such as flying birds, small clouds, and meteorites. There…
  • p. 8 …Post Contractual Inquiry In view of the unproductive nature of the contract with Land-Air, it…
  • p. 11 …La Paz, them to be classed as natural phenomena. The most recent that has come to…
  • p. 12 …Many of the sightings are attributable to natural phenomena such as flight of birds, planets, meteors…
  • p. 18 …number) appeared to be of a swirling nature, not unlike a flock of towering geese or…
  • p. 20 …Kaplan has concluded that the "green fireballs" are natural phenomena. 3. Correspondence relative to Dr. Kaplan…
  • p. 21 …Inasmuch as the phenomena appears to be atmospheric in nature it is recommended that the investigation…
  • p. 23 …Inasmuch as the phenomena appears to be atmospheric in nature, such an assignment is considered appropriate…
  • p. 24 …Inasmuch as the phenomena appears to be atmospheric in nature, it is recommended that the investigation…
  • p. 27 …the project personnel that this is a natural phenomenon. As long as a reasonable doubt exists…
  • p. 29 …have been reached concerning the origin or nature of the phenomenon which have been investigated. It…
# CONFIDENTIAL

## 1. Background

In accordance with instructions contained in a classified letter from Chief of Staff, USAF to CG, AMC, subject "Light Phenomena", on 14 September 1949, Lt. Col. Frederic C.E. Oder of CRD attended a conference at Los Alamos, 14 October 1949 on the subject of "Green Fireballs" observed in the Northern New Mexico area. Since the phenomena had been observed only in this area and only since 1947, it had caused considerable concern among security agencies in the area. It was the conclusion of the scientists present at this meeting that the information available was not sufficiently quantitative. Instrumental observations - photographic, triangulation, and spectroscopic were considered essential.

Dr. L. La Paz of the Department of Meteoritics of Univ. of New Mexico was present at the Los Alamos meeting and subsequently was invited to submit proposals for studying this phenomena under GRD sponsorship. On 2 February 1950, Dr. La Paz advised that due to difficulties with academic arrangements, he was unable to undertake this study.

During February 1950, the frequent reports of unexplained aerial phenomena in the vicinity of Holloman Air Force Base and Vaughn, New Mexico prompted the Commanding Officer of Holloman Air Force Base to initiate a program to gather factual data.

LOW GRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVAL

DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS.

DOD DIR 5200.10

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Report, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. The text was read from the page images by an OCR model; expect the odd misread word. 29 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.